NEW YORK – Santa Ana Bio on Thursday launched with $168 million in funding and plans to advance multiple precision biologics for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases into clinical trials next year based on multiomics insights.
The Alameda, California-based biotech was founded in 2022 but just emerged from stealth mode.
The $168 million was raised in Series A and B financing rounds. Versant Ventures led the Series A round, with other investors including TPG Life Sciences Innovations fund and Alphabet's venture capital arm GV. The $125 million Series B round was led by GV, with participation from Access Biotechnology, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), RTW, and existing investors.
Santa Ana Bio uses proteomic, transcriptomic, and genomic approaches to precisely characterize disease-specific subpopulations and pinpoint targets on disease-causing cell types so healthy cells are spared. "Precision medicines offer the ability to target defined cell types and pathways to disrupt the pathogenic biology driving disease," Peter Emtage, CEO and board member of Santa Ana Bio and a venture partner at Versant, said in a statement.
Santa Ana Bio has developed three preclinical programs: SAB01, which inhibits c-Kit, a protein that drives numerous allergic diseases; SAB03, which eliminates and suppresses PD-1 pathogenic T cells, part of the body's immune system; and SAB05, which uses antibody-glucocorticoid conjugates to address inflammation.
The firm expects to begin Phase I clinical trials of SAB01 in chronic inducible urticaria and SAB03 in a variety of severe inflammatory conditions in 2025.
"Given the breadth of these programs and pipeline, Santa Ana clearly has optionality to advance these promising internal programs and to pursue partnerships," Jerel Davis, board chair of Santa Ana Bio and managing director at Versant, said in a statement.